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Focus on Diabetes

An Effective Practice

This practice has been Archived and is no longer maintained.

Description

The goal of Focus on Diabetes was to improve the health and health-related quality of life of African Americans with diabetes in Denver, Colorado.

The Center for African American Health (CAAH) first conducted focus groups, during which participants revealed that they needed to know more about diabetes and its consequences, the importance of diet, exercise and blood glucose monitoring, how to prepare healthful foods and where to get guidance in how to manage diabetes. Focus on Diabetes then used this information to create their program.

Diabetes self management (DSM) classes were held at the CAAH and included a nutritious dinner and an exercise component. Walking programs were introduced at local African American churches and a pilot project to help prevent obesity and lower risks for diabetes, called "Lighten Up," was implemented at one church. Support groups and telephone follow up allowed participants to continue setting goals and monitoring their A1c levels. And finally, various community awareness and education activities were conducted, including: seasonal cooking demonstrations, Diabetes Awareness Sundays (information and screening) at black churches, and outreach at churches, beauty salons, barbershops and other community sites.

Goal / Mission

The goal of Focus on Diabetes was to improve the health and health-related quality of life of African Americans with diabetes through community-based self-care education and events.

Results / Accomplishments

From 2004 to 2006, over 200 people participated in the program. During that time, approximately 25% of participants with an A1c level of greater than 7%, reduced their level to less than 7%.

About this Promising Practice

Organization(s)
Center for African American Health and Eastside Health Center
Primary Contact
JoAnn Pegues
3601 Martin Luther King Blvd.
Denver, CO 80205
303-355-3423
joann@caahealth.org
http://www.diabetesinitiative.org/programs/DICAA.h...
Topics
Health / Diabetes
Organization(s)
Center for African American Health and Eastside Health Center
Source
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Date of implementation
2004
Geographic Type
Urban
Location
Denver, CO
For more details
Target Audience
Adults, Racial/Ethnic Minorities
Additional Audience
people with type 2 diabetes
Kansas Health Matters